
Ben “skodone” Wahl
Born 1987 in Salzburg; living in Vienna, Austria
Experience:
- since 2019 co-founder and CEO at independent Game Studio Causa Creations
- since 2024 co-leader of the independent art space Medienwerkstatt Wien
- 2021 – 2024 lecturer of the XR Masterclass at University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten
- 2018 3D and concept artist at Anego Studios
- 2014 – 2018 working as a art director at advertisement agency “Amazing”
- 2016 3D character artist at Crafty Studios Game Development GmbH “Sternenschweif HD”
Game
- 2014 – 2018 head and co-founder of registered arts and culture association HolzHaus Linz
- 2008 – 2012 construction and design, software project management at Palfinger Railway Systems
Education:
- 2019 Master of Arts in Time based media at the University of Art and Design Linz
- 2015 Bachelof of Science in Mediatechnology and -design at
University of Applied Sciences Hagenberg
- 2008 Mechatronics apprenticeship at Werkschulheim Felbertal
publications/talks:
- 2025 “Industry roundtable” at Letní filmová škola Uherské Hradiště
- 2025 “Remember the future” at Offener Prozess Chemnitz
- 2024 “Langer Tag der Flucht – Songs of Travel” at Medienwerkstatt Wien
- 2023 “Digital Storytelling – Songs of Travel” Pixel Vienna Festival
- 2022 “Holy Fire” at Ars Electronica Festival
- 2018 “I want to play female” – Reversed Festival Vienna
- 2017 “A documenta Diary” – Documenta14 Athens
single exhibitions:
- 2025 “Those From Below” at Medienwerkstatt Wien
- 2023 “Holy Fire” at Medienwerkstatt Wien
- 2022 “DysPlace” at Medienwerkstatt Wien
- 2021 “DysPlace” Mozilla Hubs – online
- 2010 “skodone” at JUZ Kokkola
- 2006 “To the roots and back to now” at JUZ Faistenau
group exhibitions/appearances:
- 2025 Letní filmová škola Uherské Hradiště with “Those From Below”
- 2025 CPH:Dox Festival with “Songs of Travel”
- 2025 Festival Image Ouverte Paris with “Holy Fire”
- 2025 “Games for diversity showcase” at GDC San Francisco with “Songs of Travel”
- 2025 “Substanz” at Haus of the artists Vienna with “Songs of Travel”
- 2025 “Songs of Travel” at BFI London Film Festival
- 2025 “Reboot Develop” Dubrovnik Croatia with “Those From Below”
- 2024 “WHO IS PLAYING WITH US?” with “Holy Fire” at ESC Medienlabor Graz
- 2024 “Songs of Travel” in cooperation with UNHCR
- 2018 “Reversed Festival” at Museumsquartier Vienna
- 2018 “Augenbrei mit Sollbruchstellen” DorfTV Linz TV Show
- 2018 “Play Austria 1.5” at Museumsquartier Vienna
- 2018 “Weg-Flanierende Erkenntnis” Exhibition at Raumschiff Linz
- 2018 “Reboot Develop” Dubrovnik Croatia
- 2017 “Pongsage” Pong exhibition of PongJam at Schaustelle Vienna
- 2017 “GameStage Live: Interfaces of Play” at Ars Electronica Center Linz
- 2017 “FairPlayAustria” at Semperdepot Vienna with “Hushed Escape”
- 2017 “Reversed Festival” at Museumsquartier Vienna
- 2017 “Artistic Waste” at The University of Art and Design Linz
- 2016 “Tage des offenen Ateliers Linz” at HolzHaus Linz
- 2016 “Aneignung” at The University of Art and Design Linz
- 2016 “Hosting HolzHaus” at Raumschiff Linz
- 2016 “HolzHaus Festival” at HolzHaus Linz
- 2016 “8kHz geschnürt” at HolzHaus Linz
- 2015 “Tage des offenen Ateliers Linz” at HolzHaus Linz
- 2015 “Grosser Knutt und Trottellumme” at HolzHaus Linz
- 2015 “Co-creation no curation” at Raumschiff Linz
- 2014 “HolzHaus” at Rother Krebs Linz
- 2014 “Walk of Wäste” at HolzHaus Linz
awards/screenings/nominations:
- 2026 Weblab
- SAGA Awards Graz nomination
- 2025 Those From Below
- ReAnimania official selection
- 2024-2025 Songs of Travel
- Honorary Mention: Best Impact | Games for Change 2024
- Nomination Game of the year | Pocket Gamer 2024
- German award for pedagogical media 2024
- Nomination for SAGA Awards Styria 2025
- 2023 Holy Fire
- Official Selection: Berlin Indie Film Festival
- Official Selection: SIGGRAPH
- Official Selection Manchester Animation Festival
- Official Selection FIVARS
Official Selection QLDXR Quebec
- 2022-2024 Glasfäden
- IDFA Official Selection 2022
- A Maze. Honorable Mention 2022
- German award for pedagogical media 2022
- Game of the year nominee Futurezone 2022
- Play Hamburg honorable mention 2022
- Saxonian award for cultural education 2023
- TOMMI award for children’s digital games 2nd place
- Nomination Goldener Spatz 2024
- 2017 “Hushed Escape”
- Best Game at Global Game Jam Vienna
- Most Creative Game at ReVersed Festival Vienna
- 2015 “Actors appointment”
- Crossing Europe Film Festival Linz ads campaign
- 2014 “Walk of Wäste”
- Kurz- und Langfilmtage 2Gas Station Berlin
- Crossing Europe Film Festival Linz
- nominated “Best student project” at Austrian Computer Graphics Award
performances:
- 2017 “Breaking free – staying bound” Sparkasse Linz – GFK Linz
- 2017 “Breaking free – staying bound” Museum of Hygiene Dresden
